EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) -- A North Carolina educator will become provost of Emporia State University in July.

Emporia State President Michael Shonrock announced the appointment of David Cordle on Wednesday. He will replace Gwen Alexander, who has been serving since August as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the eastern Kansas school.

Cordle is currently a professor of music and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

He also is a former faculty member and administrator at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.; Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond; and Longwood University in Farmville, Va.